Commonwealth Notes

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 50, 16 December 1925, Page 41

Commonwealth Notes

NEW SOUTH WALES. £.';■ His Excellency Sir Dudley de Chair, Governs nor of New South Wales, in the course of his [} speech at the 36th annual meeting of the friends of Lewisham Hospital, Sydney, said that he would be wanting in the discharge of his duty if he failed to identify himself in every possible way with such an institution as Lewisham, where the accommodation for the sick and suffering was so well carried out. The erection of a school in any district is an occasion which brings joy and satisfaction to the heart of his Grace the Archbishop, who on more than one occasion declared that he would prefer a school to St. Mary's Cathedral (says the Freeman's Journal for November 26). On Sunday, at the blessing of the foundations of the new school at Northbridge— part of Father J. Rohan's parish of Naremburn—his Grace again emphasised his ideals in the education of the children. If Father Rohan, their worthy pastor, said his Grace, instituted comparisons of St. Mary's Cathedral with their own schoolchurch and had the idea that the Archbishop of Sydney would prefer St. Mary's or the University to a school like their own, well, he would beg to differ with their pastor. All things had their place. It was time for Australia to have its Mother Church completed as well as the Catholic University, as in round numbers over 100 Catholic lady students were attending the University who would be all the worse for their education unless their faith be safeguarded - from a, V. historic point of view and also from the point of view of reason. There were in the world scientific men, he hoped in the minority, who were all the worse for their education from the standpoint of truth. They could not tell what man is, where he came from and what he was on earth for. Continuing, his Grace said they must mind the Cathedral and the University, but the fundamental position was that of the primary schools. What was their idea of the school. Perhaps they had not formulated any ideas, but in their hearts they knew it was for the uplifting of themselves, to live rational, peaceful and useful lives here on earth, and to enjoy divine life in eternity. VICTORIA. A Reuter message from Rome announces that on November 19, his Holiness Pope Pius XI accorded an audience to his Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne (Most Rev. Dr. Mannix). His Holiness was gratified to learn that by sailing from Naples on Sunday, November 22, Dr. Mannix would arrive in Australia a few days before Christmas, and thus be able to convey the Apostolic Blessing in the Pope's name to the Australian clergy ; and people. The Pope referred to the satis- / faction he felt at receiving the Australian pilgrimage, which was one of the most notv - ■;■ able features of the Holy Year celebrations, considering the enormous distance the pilgrims had to travel. Commencing early in the New Year, his | Grace the Archbishop will have an important

list of diocesan engagements. Included in list of fixtures will be the opening of the two magnificent schools at Williamstown and Essendon, and the laying of the foundation stone, of the new convent, West Brunswick. The additions to St. Vincent do Paul's Boys' Orphanage will also be blessed. On Sunday within the Octavo of the Epiphany the foundation stone of the new church at Fern Tree Gully will be laid. GWMKKVO QUEENSLAND. Thursday, December 10, will be the 20th anniversary of the consecration of his Grace the Archbishop. The ceremony, which was performed by his Grace the Archbishop of Sydney (Most Rev. Dr. Kelly), took place in St. Joseph's Cathedral, Rockhampton, in the year 1905. Dr. Kelly was assisted in the ceremony by the late Bishop Murray, and the present Bishop of Maitland (Bight Rev. Dr. P. V. Dwyer), who preached the occasional sermon. Dr. Shiel, the present Bishop of Rockhampton, was master of ceremonies ; he was then Administrator of St. Joseph's Cathedral, Rockhampton. Speaking to the adult portion of the congregation in the Sacred Heart Church, Rosalie, the other Sunday, his Grace Archbishop Duhig drew attention to the apathy and indifference of citizens to certain morally repulsive posters on hoardings to be met with in the city. He asks the Greater Brisbane Council to consider the matter and clean up the city in this respect and remove a standing menace to the moral character of our children. Referring to the remarks of his Grace regarding the "hoardings covered with what could be classed only as immoral posters," the Mayor (Alderman W. A. Jolly) stated later that the question would be dealt with in the new ordinances now being considered. Alderman Jolly added that in future the supervision of the erection of hoardings would be more strict, and special attention would be given to the matter displayed upon them. «0-$-H*o-$-^ WEST AUSTRALIA. In the course of a fine address when blessing and laying the foundation stone of a new Catholic school hall at Cottesloe, his Grace the Archbishop of Perth, the Most Rev. Dr. Clune, C.SS.R., said: "Let us turn for a moment to our own Australian land —so rich and fair— of it still retaining its virgin beauty and freshness. Let us take up the daily papers. Will not a perusal of their pages reveal to us a picture such as shocked and saddened God's prophet Osee? Are not similar crimes prevalent: ' Cursing and lying, and theft and adultery, and grosser forms of crime overflowing the land ?' Why all this? To a large extent, because, in the words of the prophet, « There is no right knowledge of God in the land.' Because such a. large proportion are not brought up in the knowledge and in the love and fear of God. We have no quarrel with the educational system organised by the State as,such.

We have nothing but admiration for its efficiency and comprehensions. But we hold that it is defective —that it lacks the most important factor in all true education —that it has not been designed, nor is it being used, as the mighty pervading instrument of spreading the knowledge of God, and the consequential blessings and attributes of that knowledge, through the length and breadth of the land. f~ TASMANIA. Three years ago the parents and friends of the boys of St. Patrick's College (Christian Brothers), Launceston, established an associa--tion having for its object the affording of assistance for the purchase of school books for students, and for other purposes. The other week the association held its third annual meeting, under the presidency of the Coadjutor-Archbishop of Tasmania (the Most Rev. Dr. Barry), and a year of great and effective effort was reported. There are over 140 members in the association. Speaking at the meeting the Coadjutor-Archbishop said that the expenditure incidental to the purchase of books for boys preparing for public examinations was beyond reason, hence the association's assistance in connection with the purchase of books was worthy of commendation. While the State had a perfect right to advance education, it had no right to penalise any section. Catholics had to build their own schools and pay taxes, while the State schools had no burden. The generosity of the Catholic people throughout Australia was tributed by his Grace, this generosity contributing in a large measure to the present high position of the Church in Australia.